Replied: Thu, 14 Nov 1996 23:17:48 EST Replied: "mneylon@engin.umich.edu " From news@srvr1.engin.umich.edu Sun Oct 27 21:44:51 1996 Received: from MIT.EDU (PACIFIC-CARRIER-ANNEX.MIT.EDU [18.69.0.28]) by bloom-picayune.MIT.EDU (8.7.6/2.3JIK) with SMTP id VAA07183; Sun, 27 Oct 1996 21:44:50 -0500 Received: from relay2.UU.NET by MIT.EDU with SMTP id AA19641; Sun, 27 Oct 96 21:44:32 EST Received: from srvr1.engin.umich.edu by relay2.UU.NET with ESMTP (peer crosschecked as: srvr1.engin.umich.edu [141.212.2.73]) id QQbnhy11502; Sun, 27 Oct 1996 21:44:27 -0500 (EST) Received: (from news@localhost) by srvr1.engin.umich.edu (8.7.6/8.7.3) id VAA13432; Sun, 27 Oct 1996 21:44:51 -0500 (EST) To: news-answers@uunet.uu.net Path: mneylon From: mneylon@engin.umich.edu (Michael K. Neylon) Newsgroups: news.answers Subject: The Save Freakazoid FAQ [10/27] Date: 28 Oct 1996 02:44:50 GMT Organization: University of Michigan; College of Engineering Lines: 210 Message-Id: Reply-To: mneylon@engin.umich.edu Nntp-Posting-Host: neylonpc.engin.umich.edu X-Newsreader: slrn (0.9.1.1 BETA UNIX) The SAVE FREAKAZOID F.A.Q. Michael K. Neylon (mneylon@engin.umich.edu) With contributions from * Andrew Mutchler (kturtle@intergate.com) * Beth Ann Bryant (bbryant@rio.com) * Jeffrey Wickel (taper@avicom.com) * Kim Roberts (kimmie@deathstar.comnet.ca) Updated 10/27/96 Posted weekly, as long as necessary, to the following newsgroups: * news.answers * alt.tv.animaniacs * alt.tv.animaniacs.pinky-brain * alt.tv.freakazoid * alt.animation.warner-bros * rec.arts.animation Questions... 1. What is Freakazoid? 2. What is the attraction, anyway? 3. Where can I see it? 4. Why the commotion about cancellation? 5. What could happen? 6. I want to help! Where should I write? 7. Can I get a little help writing this letter? 8. Where can I go to find out more information? 9. Copyright Information 1. What is Freakazoid? "Steven Spielberg Presents Freakazoid" (Also known as "F!") is a half-hour program that airs weekly on the syndicated KidsWB Network, produced by Warner Bros. Animation in association with Amblin Entertainment. The show centers around the exploits of Freakazoid, a blue-skinned, red-tights wearing superhero whose powers are somewhat unknown, but who generally prevails over his foes by confusing or belittling them, or just being generally silly. He came into existence when Dexter Douglas (his somewhat average, for a computer geek, alter ego) was subjected to the effects of a flaw in his computer's CPU. The flaw caused him to be sucked physically into the Internet, with the entire contents of the net being packed into his brain, thus making him very intelligent, but very silly. Realistic, eh? As it turns out, it's also an intelligently written, well animated, and thoroughly enjoyable show, which (as evidenced by the existence of this document) tends to gather fans that are a little more involved than the average television viewer. 2. What is the attraction, anyway? Actually, a good way to gauge the attraction of the show is to watch it, but at the risk of having to follow up this section with "I guess you had to be there", here's a few examples of the show's contents... * A short lesson in Conversational Norwegian. * A man wrestling a bear for no reason. * Agarn (from "F-Troop") in a dress. * A man who can turn beavers into gold. * An Ode To Leonard Nimoy. * Your very own Harlan Ellison! * Bill Gates captured and imprisoned. * Jack Valenti's cheeks. * Big Splashy Musical Numbers with David Warner, who (God luv 'im) can't sing. * Poo gas. * Kathie Lee Gifford zapped into nothingness. * The Pope. Oh, and there's a few assorted villians out to conquer the world (but they're not important right now.) 3. Where can I see it? Freakazoid is currently shown as part of the KidsWB collection of shows, which is usually shown Saturday morning on your local WB network affilliate. Please check your local listings for times and days. KidsWB is also shown on the national KidsWB affliate, WGN, on Sunday mornings between 6:30 AM CST to 8:00 AM, then from 9:00 AM to 11:30AM. ("The Sunday Super Bozo Show", a WGN-produced show, is shown between 8 and 9, and is in no way related to anything produced by Warner Bros.) Most cable services will carry this station; again, check your local listings. F! currently airs as the first show in the KidsWB block. This is 7:30AM EST (4:30AM PST) on Sunday morning for WGN viewers. 4. Why the commotion about cancellation? KidsWB has recently started a new programming policy called "Big Kids Go First!" Unfortunately, this means that "Freakazoid", which seems to appeal to the biggest kids, winds up being the first show in the schedule...when most of its fans are likely recuperating from the night before. For instance, if you're on the West Coast and you depend on WGN for your Freakazoid fix, it's on at 4:30am. Good luck catching it then. Rumors have begun to fly, not the least of which involves some of the higher executives at the network just not understanding what to do with the show. There's also the minor problem of promotion; to date, there's been no promotion of the show outside commercials on The WB itself, which is sort of like preaching to the converted. The show's future seems shaky ... but there's nothing like a letter-writing campaign to bolster a show's prospects. 5. What if it's cancelled? To paraphrase, the problems of a TV show and its fans don't amount to a hill of beans in this world ... but the world would be a slightly darker place if this transient flame of brilliance were snuffed out before its time. Melodramatic? Perhaps. We like this show a lot, though. You probably would too, if you gave it a quick viewing. And if you're already familiar with the show, well, what are you waiting for? Write, already! 6. I want to help! Where should I write? First off, it's pretty well recognized that the good ol' U. S. Mail is more effective in situations like this than e-mail. Imagine, if you will, the climactic scene in "Miracle On 34th Street" and the impact of those sacks of mail being dragged into the courtroom. Now imagine if they'd had e-mail. Santa would have been committed. Write to: Jamie Kellner The WB Network 4000 Warner Blvd. Bldg. #34R Burbank, CA. 91522 Garth Ancier The WB Network 4000 Warner Blvd. Bldg. #34R Burbank, CA. 91522 Fax: 818-954-6479 E-mail (if you *really* must): gancier@aol.com 7. Can I get a little help writing this letter? We're nothing if not meddlesome. Here's a few quick tips that will grant you the power to win friends, influence people, and save witty, innovative television programs. a. Don't be nasty. Letters that are abusive or threatening will be dismissed out of hand. These people don't *have* to read your letter, you know. Be polite, but firm. This means you should not include cursing or name-calling in your letter. b. Get to the point. A meandering monologue about the history of animation and your part in its fandom will cause the reader to actually put down your letter and go off in search of more productive work. State who you are, and the fact that you're a great fan of the show, without getting *too* in-depth. They really don't need to know about your 5-and-a-half-foot-tall Freakazette plushie. Really. On the other hand, could you clue us in on where you got it? ;o) 8. Where can I go for additional information? First, the newsgroups alt.tv.animaniacs and alt.tv.freakazoid are read by people close to the 'Save Freakazoid' goal, and they will post often as to the current status of the show. Note that the alt.tv.freakazoid is not well-propigated as of the writing of this FAQ, but important news is cross-posted between the two groups. Secondly, this FAQ will be available at the web site and any latest news will be immediately reflected in this FAQ. Finally, you can talk to many people that are close to the cause on-line using the DALNet #watertower IRC channel. See for information on connecting to the channel. 9. Copyright Information Freakazoid and related characters are copyright and trademarked Warner Bros. Animation. The use of these names in this document is only for non-profit, informational purposes only, and is not meant to infringe upon this copyright. This document is copyright Michael K. Neylon, and may be redistributed as long as it remains unmodified. -- Michael K. Neylon, UM ChE Grad | "Look! Every time I move my arm, it mneylon@engin.umich.edu | costs the Cartoon Network $42!... A!, PatB, F!, MST, ST, DW | Look!...$42...$84..." - SGC2C http://www-personal.engin.umich.edu/~mneylon